Nkwakwa (Eastern Region) -- More than 16,000 people have so far registered as members of the Okwahuman Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) for this year.

The scheme, which was established by the two main hospitals in Kwahu - the Nkawkaw Holy Family and the Atibie Government hospitals - attracted 8,441 members last year, which was the year of its inception.

In an interview with Chronicle, the manager of the scheme, Mr. Collins Danso Akuamoah said the scheme realised ?168 million last year from the 8,441 members who paid ?20,000 each for a period of one year.

Out of this over ?90 million was spent on 500 members who fell sick and admitted at the two hospitals.

He said, the scheme settled bills between ?80,000 and ?1.6 million on individual basis.

Akuamoah said, the scheme has set ?500 million as the target for this year and ?470 million has so far been realised from the old members who renewed their membership at ?20,000 each with the new members paying ?30,000 each.

He disclosed that this year's registration exercise will end at the end of this month and therefore urged all Kwahus especially those outside to come home and assist their relations who could not afford the premium payment to enable more people benefit from the scheme which he said, has helped a lot of people to obtain quality and affordable health care.

On his part, the administrator of Nkawkaw Holy Family hospital, Mr. Alex Ofori Mensah, who initiated the scheme, thanked the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), for its immense assistance towards the establishment and operation of the scheme.

He said, but for DANIDA's continuous assistance to the scheme, it would not have achieved this great height.

In a related development, DANIDA has presented 10 bicycles to the scheme to enhance movement of its staff to the hinterlands to meet the people at the grassroots.